Democrats weave climate messages into spending bills

House Democrats are using the budget process to offer a clear contrast ahead of an election year between their embrace of aggressive action on climate change and the rollbacks of environmental regulation championed by Republicans when they controlled the chamber in the 115th Congress.

Many of the provisions they've included in the fiscal 2020 spending bills may not survive the GOP-led Senate, but Democrats are aware of national polls showing growing voter concern about the climate crisis.

Lawmakers last week voted to include in the Interior-Environment measure an amendment that would increase funding for the EPA's Science Advisory Board, a panel that the Trump administration has remade by replacing many former members with industry-friendly representatives.

That amendment, by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., also would increase funding for the board to review the administration's proposed Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science rule, which public health advocates and many board members warn is meant to stifle the kind of science the EPA uses in its rulemaking.